A list of the men by Surname J - L

This is a list of men who were either born or had a connection to either Frimley, Camberley or the local surrounding areas. Addresses are given as shown in the military and other records.

John Edwin, Jacques 1923 - 1941;

Born between October and December 1923. Registered at Alton, Hampshire.

Enlisted unknown date.

Royal Navy.

Rank: Ordinary Seaman.

Service No: P/JX 160599.

John served aboard H.M.S Dunedin.

Killed In Action on the 24th of November 1941, aged 18.

H.M.S Dunedin, a light cruiser, of the 1st Cruiser Squadron, left England for the final time in April 1941, where she was stationed in the South Atlantic. She took part in a joint operation with the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Eagle, tasked with searching for German supply ships. The German fleet oiler Lothringen was spotted by Swordfish aircraft from Eagle and Dunedin with one boiler out of action, steamed as fast as she could to make the interception. Dunedin found the Lothringen badly damaged from the Swordfish attacks but still afloat. A boarding party sailed the ship to Bermuda as the German Merchant Navy crew members had refused to scuttle her. Important Enigma material was later found where it had fallen behind a filing cabinet in the wireless room. The tanker was repaired and then used by the Royal Navy as fleet oiler Empire Salvage.

H.M.S Dunedin then spent the next few months sailing the South Atlantic, calling in at Freetown, Sierra Leone, St Helena and Bathurst. In November 1941 The Admiralty through intelligence gained from Enigma, learned that four U-boats, an armed merchant raider and a supply ship, were to attack Allied shipping near to Cape Town, South Africa. Dunedin along with H.M.S. Devonshire and H.M.S. Dorset shire were ordered to independently track and intercept them.

On the 22nd of November Devonshire came upon U-126 and the armed raider Atlantis and attacked. She sunk Atlantis but stayed out of range of U-126, and reported survivors in the water. On the 24th of November the supply ship Python came to help U-126 which was towing survivors towards South America. On the afternoon of the same day U-124, commanded by Jochen Mohr, was to rendezvous with the Python. Near St Paul’s Rocks, 900 miles west of Freetown, just south of the Equator, Mohr sighted Dunedin to his north east sailing a zigzag course at 17 knots. U-124 raced ahead of Dunedin's path and dived for the attack. The lookouts on the cruiser saw the periscope at 14.50 hours and changed course to chase the U-boat, but the course of the U-boat was misinterpreted so the Dunedin sailed away from U-124. The approaching U-124 suddenly came to the surface for a brief moment, but remained unseen. The forward hydroplanes jammed and the crew had trouble to get the boat under control. As Mohr was able to see through his periscope again the cruiser was not in sight, but then he spotted the vessel at a range of over three miles, which was now well past of a favourable attack range. Mohr decided to fire a spread of three torpedoes at 15.21 hours. After 5 minutes and 23 seconds, two torpedoes struck the cruiser, which rolled first to port then to starboard before sinking stern first after 17 minutes. The first torpedo struck amidships and wrecked the main wireless station. The second torpedo struck further aft, probably near the quarters of the officers, dismounting the after 6in gun and blowing away the starboard screw. About 250 survivors managed to leave the ship by jumping overboard. They rescued themselves onto seven Carley floats and floating debris. The U-boat surfaced and circled the survivors for about ten minutes but then left.

Only 72 survivors were still alive on the six floats found by the American steam merchant Nishmaha, en route from Takoradi to Philadelphia, three days after the sinking. Many survivors drowned, some died of their injuries, others died of exhaustion and some were bitten and killed by sharks. Five of the rescued men died before the merchant ship reached Trinidad, with only four officers and 63 ratings surviving the sinking.

Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Panel Reference: Panel 50, Column 3.

Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.

Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.

Son of John H. and Lilian Jacques, of Frimley Green, Surrey.

Arthur William, James ? - 1943;

I have not confirmed year of birth, family or connection to Camberley or Frimley area.

Enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, unknown date.

Service No: 158917.

Arthur trained to be a Pilot and was ranked as Flight Sergeant.

Posted to No. 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit (H.C.U.) No. 7 Group, Training Command at R.A.F. Rufforth, Yorkshire, unknown date.

On the 17th/18th of June 1943, Arthur was aboard Halifax Mark V Registration DG421 from No. 1663 H.C.U.,on a training flight for night circuits and landings, that crash landed at R.A.F Pocklington, Yorkshire. The aircraft sustained extensive damage and was a write off but all crew members escaped and survived the crash.

With the introduction of new heavy bombers, the four-engine Short Stirling, Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax, the Royal Air Force introduced heavy conversion units (H.C.U.). The heavy conversion units began forming in late 1941, to qualify crews trained on medium bombers to operate the heavy bombers before final posting to the operational squadrons. Some of the heavy conversion units were involved in bombing operations over Germany.

Commissioned as a Pilot Officer (On probation) on the 30th of September 1943. Published in the London Gazette on the 30th of November 1943. Supplement 36267, Page 5245.

Posted to No. 51 Squadron R.A.F. based at R.A.F. Snaith, Yorkshire, unknown date.

Killed In Action on the 9th of October 1943.

On 8 October 1943 Arthur was the pilot of Halifax JN885 coded MH-A which took off at 10.42 pm from R.A.F. Snaith in Yorkshire on a raid to Hannover. In total 504 aircraft - 282 Lancasters, 188 Halifaxes, 26 Wellingtons, 8 Mosquitos, were sent to the city. The German controller guessed correctly that Hannover was the target and many night fighters arrived before the attack was over. A total of 27 aircraft - 14 Lancasters and 13 Halifaxes - were lost, 5.4 per cent of the force. Conditions over Hannover were clear and the Pathfinders were finally able to mark the centre of the city accurately; a most concentrated attack followed with a creep back of only 2 miles, all within the built-up area. This was probably Hannover's worst attack of the war. JN885 was one of two 51 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation. It crashed at 1.10 am between the communities of Kieselhorst and Beckeln, Germany, although the cause of loss has not been established.

Buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Grave Reference: Joint grave 17. G. 17-18.

Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.

Herbert Frederick, Jennings 1910 - 1941;

Born on the 10th of July 1910 at Frimley, Surrey.

Employed as a Ledger Clerk by Drake & Mount, 92 High Street, Camberley, Surrey. Employed from the 24th of January 1927 until September 1928.

Enlisted into the Royal Air Force on the 3rd of September 1928.

Rank: Aircraftman 2nd Class.

Service: 509138.

Posted to Training Depot Squadron on the 3rd of September 1928.

Promoted to Aircraftman First Class, unknown date.

Promoted to Sergeant, unknown date.

Trade: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.

Posted to No.58 Squadron, unknown date.

No. 58 Squadron was flying Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Bombers from Yorkshire at the outbreak of the Second World War, and first went into action on the night of 3rd/4th September, 1939, when - in conjunction with No. 51 Squadron - it made a leaflet raid over Germany. This was the first occasion on which R.A.F aircraft penetrated into Germany during the Second World War.

A few weeks after this operation No. 58 was ordered to an airfield in South-West England for duty with Coastal Command and until late January, 1940, it was employed on escorting convoys and flying anti-submarine patrols. The squadron returned to Yorkshire in February and from April, 1940 to March, 1942, played a prominent part in the night-bombing offensive. Its targets were of the widest variety, from airfields, road and railway communications, marshalling yards and industrial centres, to the Channel Ports, oil and petrol installations and shipping at sea.

On the 23rd of December 1940, Herbert as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner and crew were tasked with bombing Boulogne, France. Whitley (with serial P5098) took off from R.A.F. Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire at 5.25 pm. One hour into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems with some instruments and decided to return to his base. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked Westland Lysander. An explosion occurred and both aircraft were destroyed. Herbert and 3 other members of the crew were wounded but managed to escape the burning aircraft but unfortunately the tail gunner was killed.

Killed In Action on the 3rd of March 1941, aged 29.

Herbert and crew flew aboard Armstrong Whitworth Whitley (type V, with serial Z6465 and code GE-U) taking off at 6.05 pm from R.A.F. Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire for a bombing mission to Brest, France. The main target was the cruiser 'Hipper'. At 11.50 pm a messaged was received over wireless transmission indicating that the sortie had been abandoned. Crashed at 1.56 am and burst into flames 3 miles north east of Ternhill, Shropshire, killing the entire crew.

Buried at St. Peter's, Frimley, Surrey, on the 10th of March 1941.

Grave Reference: Grave 764.

Son of Fredrick and Ellen Jennings, of 16 Frimley Road, Camberley, Surrey.

Alexander Percival, Johnson D.S.O. 1912 - 1944;

Known as Johnny Johnson.

Born between July and September 1911. Registered at Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College Sandhurst.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Suffolk Regiment, on the 27th of August 1931. Published in the London Gazette on the 28th of August 1931. Issue 33748, Page 5623.

Promoted to Lieutenant Suffolk Regiment on the 27th of August 1934. Published in the London Gazette on the 28th of August 1934. Issue 34082, Page 5461.

Posted to India, unknown date.

Alexander married Jeanne Helene Irvine at Colaba, Bombay, India, 1937.

Promoted to Captain Suffolk Regiment on the 27th of August 1939. Published in the London Gazette on the 29th of August 1939. Issue 34660, Page 5971.

Appointed Commanding Officer 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion (was 10th Bn. The Green Howards), Parachute Regiment. Part of the 5th Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division.

Parachuted into Normandy, France on D-Day, 6th of June 1944 during Operation Tonga, during the wider Operation Overlord.

Killed In Action on the 12th of June 1944, aged 32.

When Alexander parachuted into Normandy on the 6th June, he was the first man to arrive at his Battalion's rendezvous, but like all of the parachute battalion commanders of the 6th Airborne Division, after several hours of waiting at the rendezvous a less than satisfactory number of his men had presented themselves, and so he was therefore faced with the dilemma of whether to advance to secure his objective or wait for more men to present themselves on the drop zone. The 12th Battalion had, in fact, been more successful than most in assembling their men as 60% of their strength was accounted for by 2.30 am, and so Alexander, who was aware that it was vital that his men should secure the ridge south of Le Bas de Ranville before dawn, ordered the advance. In the event the Battalion met no resistance on the way and they began to take up positions along the ridge at 4.00 am.

The 12th Battalion formed a defensive line south of the bridge at Ranville. On the 6th and 7th of June, the battalion defended the bridgehead against attacks by the German 21st Panzer Division moving north from Caen. Many casualties were caused by heavy fire from enemy machine guns, mortars, artillery, self-propelled guns, and tanks.

On the 12th June 1944, after spending several days in the Divisional Reserve, Alexander received orders personally from Major-General Gale to prepare the Battalion for an attack on Bréville that night. Out of necessity, it was a hastily improvised operation, so much so that Johnson had only two hours to brief his men and lead them to the start line for their advance, at Amfreville. Attached to the greatly understrength 12th Battalion was "D" Company of the 12th Devonshires, however by the time that Alexander had arrived at the start line with his men, with only moments to spare before the Allied artillery barrage began, he had not been able to talk with the Devons' commander about the plan that he proposed as they had yet to arrive. Alexander decided to attack along a single company front, with "C" Company leading the way to secure the crossroads and the southern area of the village, then for "A" Company to pass through them and secure the south-eastern sector, the Devons were then to follow and capture the north-east, and finally the 12th Battalion's "B" Company would advance and deal with the western area.

The attack was a success, but the two leading companies of the 12th Battalion and the Devons suffered particularly terribly as a result of enemy small arms and artillery fire. Amongst the dead was Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson himself, however he was a victim of friendly fire. An artillery shell, believed to have been fired from a gun of the 51st Highland Division, fell short of Bréville, just as the attack began, and killed Johnson. He had been standing with a group of senior officers who had gathered to witness the assault, and the explosion that killed him also seriously wounded Brigadiers The Lord Lovat and Hugh Kindersley.

Awarded the Distinguished Service Order, back dated to the 11th of June 1944. Published in the London Gazette on the 29th of August 1944. Supplement 36679, Page 4045.

"Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Alexander Percival Johnson (52653), The Suffolk Regiment

(since killed in action) (to be dated 11th June1944)".

His citation reads:

"Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson landed with his Battalion by parachute behind the enemy lines on the 6th June 1944. His Battalion held the Eastern approaches to the Benouville bridgehead throughout the 6th June in the face of repeated attacks by enemy self-propelled guns and infantry in superior strength. His courage leadership and skill were an inspiration to the remainder of his Battalion and his task was successfully accomplished.

On the 7th June, Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson's Battalion held its ground against more attacks by infantry with self-propelled guns in support. The assaults were pressed at point blank range and in some places penetrated into his position. Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson's brilliant handling of his Battalion, his coolness under fire was directly responsible for the successful defence of the position as a whole and to the final reoccupation of our original line."

Buried at Ranville War Cemetery,Ranville, Calvados, France.

Grave Reference: IVA. C. 10.

Son of Colonel Henry Alexander Johnson and Constance Bertha Johnson (nee Shewell); Husband of Jeanne Helene Johnson (nee Irvine), of The Priory, Frimley Street, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey.

Joseph Leonard, Jones 1914 - 1940;

Born in Denbighshire, Wales, about 1914. I've not confirmed birth or parents details.

Enlisted into the Army unknown date.

Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Service No: 4189810.

Rank: Private.

Joseph married Lily Hilda Brett between July and September 1938. Registered at Surrey North Western.

Promoted to Lance Corporal, unknown date.

Promoted to Corporal, unknown date.

Posted to the B.E.F. in France, unknown date.

Joseph served with the 1st Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers whom were posted to France and disembarked in Cherbourg on the 24th of September 1939.

Killed In Action on the 23rd of May 1940, aged 26.

Buried at Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, St. Omer, Pas de Calais, France.

Grave Reference: Plot 9. Row C. Grave 8.

Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.

Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.

Husband of Lily Hilda Jones (nee Brett), of 14 Elmcroft Cottages, Frimley Green Road, Frimley, Surrey.

Lionel Victor, Jones 1919 - 1943;

Born between January and March 1919. Registered at Farnham, Surrey.

Enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, unknown date.

Promoted to Leading Aircraftman on the 29th of August 1942. Published in the London Gazette on the 10th of November 1942. Supplement 35777, Page 4869.

Lionel rose through the Ranks until being promoted to Flying Officer and a trained Navigator.

Lionel married Joyce Marion Laws between July and September 1943. Registered at Battersea, London.

Lionel served with No.297 Squadron R.A.F. based at R.A.F. Stoney Cross, New Forest, Hampshire.

No. 297 Squadron was originally formed as the Parachute Exercise Squadron at R.A.F. Ringway on the 15th of December 1941 and moved to R.A.F. Netheravon on 22 January 1942, then officially becoming No 297 Squadron R.A.F. The squadron moved to R.A.F. Station Stoney Cross on the 25th August 1943, where they practised parachute drops with the 8th Battalion parachute regiment and 22 Independent Parachute regiment in preparation for the D-Day invasion.

Killed In Training on the 21st of December 1943, aged 24.

The Albemarle aircraft that Lionel was navigator aboard was taking part in training operation "Try Again" when they crashed into a hillside in bad weather.

The Station flying log report stated;

"The first aircraft of 297 squadron was to drop at 03:00 hrs and the other aircraft at 2 minute intervals. The weather conditions were far from ideal - there were a number of shower clouds about - but despite this, the exercise was carried out and quite successfully considering the conditions. The moon was obscured by cloud and the navigators had difficulty pin-pointing their position. Unfortunately, one aircraft pilot Flight Sgt. Jubb crashed when making the run to rendezvous (Ludgershall) at a position where there was low cloud. Of the six R.A.F. personnel, all were killed outright except one who was critically injured, and eight of the ten paratroopers carried were killed, the remaining two being badly injured. Upon returning to base, the 4th aircraft crash landed on the runway, with the result that the runway had to be changed and the last aircraft did not land until almost 05:00 hours. Consequently 110 troops of the 8th Parachute battalion were dropped in the drop zone as well as 10 of the independent parachute company. Night time flying 25.40 hours.

The Operations log for R.A.F. Stoney Cross records:

"21.12 One of the Albemarle aircraft of 297 squadron crashed into a hillside while taking part in Exercise "Try Again". Five members of the crew, Flight Sgt. Jubb G.W (Captain), Flying Officer Jones L. V. (Navigator), Sgt. Drakeford C. H., Sgt Hughes J. F. and Flight Sgt. Russell C., on special duty were killed."

Buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Brookwood, Surrey.

Grave Reference: 21. C. 17.

Son of John Herbert and Elsie Mable Jones (nee Neville), of Plantation Row, Camberley, Surrey; husband of Joyce Marion Jones.

Frederick Stephen, Keenes 1901 - 1941;

Born on the 20th of March 1901 at Hackney, London.

Enlisted into the Royal Navy on the 18th of September 1918.

Rank: Boy 1st Class

Service No: P/J 92997.

Posted to H.M.S. Powerful, Devonport, Devon on the 18th of September 1918.

H.M.S. Powerful was moored at Devonport and used as a Boy's training ship.

Awarded the British War Medal 1914 1918.

Posted to H.M.S. Victory I on the 10th of December 1918. Shore based training establishment at Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Posted to H.M.S Queen Elizabeth on the 3rd of January 1919.

Promoted to Ordinary Seaman on the 20th of March 1919. Frederick signed on for 12 years service on his 18th Birthday.

Promoted to Able Seaman on the 24th of June 1920.

Posted to H.M.S. Excellent on the 7th of January 1921. Shore based establishment at Whale Island, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Posted to H.M.S. Victory I on the 1st of October 1921.

Posted to H.M.S Dido on the 6th of November 1921. H.M.S. Dido was depot ship for Royal Navy destroyers that dealt with sailors admin pay and mail etc. During this time Frederick served aboard H.M.S Saladin, H.M.S Umpire, H.M.S. Skate.

Posted to H.M.S. Diligence on the 6th of July 1923. H.M.S. Diligence was another depot ship for destroyers. Frederick served aboard H.M.S. Wishart.

Posted to H.M.S. Sandhurst on the 1st of April 1925. H.M.S. Sandhurst was a depot ship for destroyers. Frederick was still serving aboard H.M.S. Wishart.

Posted to H.M.S. Egmont II on the 1st of November 1925. H.M.S. Egmont II was a shore based depot on the Island of Malta. Frederick was still serving aboard H.M.S. Wishart.

Posted to H.M.S Victory II on the 9th of December 1925. Frederick was still serving aboard H.M.S. Wishart.

Posted to H.M.S. Victory I on the 2nd of February 1926.

Posted to H.M.S Excellent on the 27th of April 1926. H.M.S Excellent was a shore based establishment at Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Posted to H.M.S. Victory I on the 21st of June 1927.

Posted to H.M.S Excellent on the 9th of December 1927.

Frederick married Emily Montford on the 6th of August 1927 at St George's, Camberley, Surrey.

Posted to H.M.S. Victory I on the 21st of June 1928.

Posted to H.M.S Excellent on the 18th of July 1928.

Posted to H.M.S. Furious on the 28th of August 1928. H.M.S. Furious was a converted aircraft carrier used extensively for trials of naval aircraft and training carrier once the new armoured carriers like Ark Royal entered service in the late 1930s.

Posted to H.M.S. Excellent on the 1st of April 1931.

Posted to H.M.S. Frobisher on the 30th of May 1931. H.M.S. Frobisher was being converted to a Cadets Training ship.

Posted to H.M.S. Vindictive on the 21st of June 1932.

Posted to H.M.S. Effingham on the 1st of October 1932.

Posted to H.M.S. Coventry on the 20th of December 1932.

Awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, on the 3rd of June 1934.

Posted to H.M.S. Excellent on the 1st of August 1935.

Posted to H.M.S. Cyclops on the 13th of September 1937. H.M.S Cyclops was a depot ship. Frederick was serving aboard H.M.S Douglas at this time.

Posted to H.M.S. St. Angelo on the 1st of October 1937. H.M.S.St. Angelo was a large bastioned fort in Birgu, Malta, located at the centre of the Grand Harbour. It was originally built in the medieval period as a castle called the Castrum Maris or the Castello al Mare. Frederick was still serving aboard H.M.S.Douglas at this time.

Posted to H.M.S. Douglas on the 1st of January 1938.

Posted to H.M.S Maidstone on the 1st of July 1938. H.M.S. Maidstone was a submmarine depot ship. Frederick was still serving aboard H.M.S. Douglas at this time.

Posted to H.M.S. Cormorant on the 18th of March 1939. H.M.S. Cormorant was based at Gibraltar as a receiving ship for crew to be posted onto another ship. Frederick was still serving aboard H.M.S Douglas at this time.

Posted to H.M.S. Victory I on the 7th of April 1939.

Posted to H.M.S Curacoa on the 20th of May 1939.

Posted to H.M.S. Dauntless on the 1st of July 1939.

Posted to H.M.S. Excellent on the 30th of July 1939.

Living at 27a Shaftesbury Road , Portsmouth, Hampshire, with wife Emily in the 1939 register. Frederick gives his occupation as Able Seaman H.M.S Excellent.

Posted to H.M.S. Cochrane II on the 29th of May 1940. HMS Cochrane II was the Rosyth, Scotland supply and accounting base for tenders between 1940 and 1945. Fredrick was serving aboard H.M.S. Cossack.

Killed In Action on the 23rd of October 1941, aged 40.

On the 23rd of October 1941, H.M.S. Cossack was escorting a convoy from Gibraltar to the United Kingdom when she was struck by a single torpedo fired by the German submarine U-563 commanded by Klaus Bargsten. The front of the ship had been almost completely destroyed and 159 men out of the crew of 219 were killed. An attempt was made to tow the ship back for repairs but she sank in heavy seas four days later.

Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Panel Reference: Panel 48, Column 2.

Son of Frederick C. and Elizabeth A. Keenes, of South Woodford, Essex; husband of Emilie Keenes, of 7 Cross Street, Camberley, Surrey. Frederick's widow Emilie died in 1943 and was buried at St. Michael's, Yorktown, Camberley, Surrey.

John, Knapp 1912 - 1945;

Born on the 25th of May 1912 at Quetta, Bengal, India.

Baptised on the 6th of July 1912 at Quetta, Bengal, India.

Educated at Southcote House, Winchester College, May 1925.

John did very well at Winchester College, becoming a Commoner Prefect in 1930, playing in XV's two years and one year in VI's: in the match against Commoners he excelled himself, and one experienced judge called him the best player on the field. He was also a good long distance runner, and a useful Soccer player and cricketer. He was a sergeant in the O.T.C., and helped to win Drill Cup for his House.

Educated at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich, admission 1930.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Royal Artillery on the 28th of January 1932. Published in the London Gazette on the 29th of January 1932. Issue 33794, Page 631.

Promoted to Lieutenant Royal Artillery on the 28th of January 1935. Published in the London Gazette on the 29th of January 1935. Issue 34128, Page 695.

John travelled to Estonia in 1937 to study Russian, qualifying in 1938 as an interpreter 1st Class. He was also fluent in Urdu and Pushtu.

Posted to India 1939. John saw active service in Warzistan.

Promoted to Captain Royal Artillery on the 28th of January 1940. Published in the London Gazette on the 30th of January 1940. Supplement 34781, Page 588.

Appointed Acting Major, 1940.

Posted to Iraq, 1940. John took an Anti-Tank Battery to Iraq.

Educated at the Staff College Quetta, India, Passing out in 1943.

John married Adele Elsa Buchner on the 25th of December 1943 at Bombay, India.

Posted to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) as Staff Officer Royal Artillery 1944.

Appointed as Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and General Staff Officer 1st Class in the Chindits Division, 1944.

Officer Commanding of 33 Mountain Regiment Royal Indian Artillery, 1944.

John served on the Arakan Front in Burma. The Regiment was formed from batteries of 23, 30 and 31 Mountain Regiments in October 1944, as there was increasing need for artillery able to get into difficult positions in steep country.

Killed In Action on the 13th of March 1945 aged 32.

John was killed when his command post received a direct hit.

His Brigadier writes of the tact and power of mind which made him a first-rate Staff Officer. "I know," he says, " that he achieved his ambition as a soldier when he went to serve in Arakan. I know too that he did his job faultlessly until the end, and willingly gave up his life."

His Colonel writes that when they landed at Ru-Ywa they were somewhat stale from previous operations. "By sheer personality John infused into the regiment new life, vigour and will to win. He, and he alone, maintained this spirit throughout the advance by his never-failing cheerfulness and courage." Both at Winchester and in the Army he was loved and admired. He was not merely, in the hackneyed phrase," one of the best," he was one of the finest men Winchester has produced in recent years-or any school could produce."

No known grave.

Remembered on the Rangoon Memorial, Taukkyan War Cemetery, M

Remembered on the Winchester College War.

Panel Reference: Cloister Inner E2

Son of Brigadier-General Kempster Kenmure Knapp, C.B., C.M.G., Royal Artillery, and of Lilian Wingate Knapp (nee Cowan); husband of Adele Elsa Knapp (nee Buchner) of 13 Diamond Ridge, Camberley, Surrey.

D. W., Knight ? - ?

Royal Engineers

Rank: Major.

Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.

Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.

John Anderson, Kirkpatrick 1915 - 1944;

I've not confirmed family details for John.

Born in Surrey, about 1914.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Royal Artillery on the 15th of July 1943. Published in the London Gazette on the 24th of August 1943. Supplement 36142, Page 3781.

Service No: 285501.

Promoted to Lieutenant, unknown date.

Transferred to the 6th Battalion Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), unknown date.

Killed In Action on the 6th of June 1944, aged 28.

The 6th and 7th Battalions of the Green Howards were part of the D-Day landings, wading ashore at Gold Beach, on the morning of the 6th of June 1944. By the evening of the first day they had fought their way seven miles inland, further than any other British or American unit.

Buried at . Bayeux War Cemetery, Bayeux, France.

Grave Reference: X. C. 9.

Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.

Son of John and Florence Kirkpatrick; nephew of Mrs. D. Beard, of New Basford, Nottingham.

George William Frederic, Leicester 1895 - 1944;

Born on the 24th of April 1895 at Bournemouth, Dorset. Registered at Poole, Dorset.

Baptised on the 16th of May 1895, at All Saints, Branksome Park, Dorset. George and his family were living at Branksome Manor, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Living at Wenonah, Poole Road, Bournemouth, Dorset in the 1901 census.

Educated at Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire. unknown admission date.

Boarder at Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire in the 1911 census.

Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Cheshire Regiment on the 15th of August 1914.

Posted to the B.E.F. in France and Flanders, disembarking on the 7th of September 1914.

George served with the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment.

Wounded In Action and taken as a Prisoner of War on the 22nd of October 1914.

Repatriated to England on the 18th of November 1918.

Appointed Temporary Captain on the 15th of August 1918.

Appointed as Garrison Adjutant, Northern Command on the 17th of May 1919.

Promoted to Captain on the 12th of March 1921.

Posted to the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment, based at Aldershot, Hampshire, March 1931.

George married Katharine Anne Chenevix Trench, at St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, London on the 19th of January 1932.

Posted to the Regimental Depot at Chester, Cheshire, June 1933.

Promoted to Major Cheshire Regiment, on the 2nd of December 1933.

Appointed as Officer Commanding, Regimental Depot, The Cheshire Regiment, at Chester, Cheshire, September 1935.

Posted to India. George was posted to serve with the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, based at Ambala, India, January 1937.

Appointed as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment, 24th of September 1938. The 1st battalion were based at Bombay, India before being posted to Khartoum, Sudan.

Appointed as Officer Commanding, Palestine Recruiting and Training Depot at Sarafend, near Tel-Aviv, Palestine (also Inspector of Palestine Regiments) on the 2nd of September 1940.

Mentioned In Despatches for service in the Middle East (Syria, Iraq, Iran) on the 6th of January 1944.

Attached to the Royal Air Force Regiment, unknown date.

Accidentally Killed on the 25th of February 1944 aged 48.

Buried at Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire.

Grave Reference: Sec. H. Grave 53.

Son of William Frederic and Mary Lilian Leicester; husband of Katharine Anne Leicester (nee Chenevix Trench), of Berrymead, Old Green Lane, Camberley, Surrey.

Clifford Ivor, Lewis 1916 - 1944;

Known as Bubbles.

Born on the 2nd of September 1916, at Blairmore, Alberta, Canada.

Living at Trail City, Kootenay West, British Columbia, Canada in the 1921 Canadian census.

Enlisted on the 6th of September 1939 at Trail, British Columbia, Canada.

Living at Lemon Block, Columbia Avenue, Rossland, British Columbia on enlistment. Occupation given as Hardrock Miner.

109th Field Battery Royal Canadian Artillery.

Rank: Gunner.

Service No: K/7027.

Posted to England, disembarking on the 21st of December 1939.

Posted to 3rd Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, at Aldershot, England on the 22nd of December 1939.

Clifford married Joan Edna Wallis on the 17th of April 1940. Registered at Surrey North Eastern.

Qualified as Drivers Mechanic on the 12th of June 1940.

Appointed as Acting Bombardier on the 12th of June 1940.

Promoted to Bombardier on the 12th of September 1940.

Appointed as Acting Lance Sergeant on the 4th of February 1943.

Promoted to Lance Sergeant on the 4th of May 1943.

Appointed to Acting Sergeant on the 13th of May 1943.

Promoted to Sergeant on the 13th of May 1943.

Posted to Italy, embarking at England on the 10th of June 1943.

Clifford was involved in Operation Husky, the Allied Invasion of Sicily, disembarking on the 10th of July 1943. Serving with the 109th Field Battery, 3rd Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery.

The 109th Field Battery continued the Italian Campaign in September 1943 with the invasion of the Italian mainland, crossing the Strait of Messina and capturing Reggio Calabria meeting little resistance. By the end of September 1943 the Allied armies had control of most of southern Italy but it now begun to meet heavy resistance from the German army which still controlled central and northern Italy. After a lull in the winter of 1943, the spring offensives saw fierce fighting continue as the Allied armies fought their way through Italy.

Killed In Action on the 20th of May 1944 aged 27.

Buried at Cassino War Cemetery, Commune of Cassino, Province of Frosinone, Italy.

Grave Reference: XIII. C. 14.

Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.

Son of Richard George Ernest Clifford Lewis and Jennie Alberta Lewis of 1314 Green Avenue, Trail, British Columbia, Canada; Husband of Edna Joan Lewis (nee Wallis), of 19 Brook Road, Camberley, Surrey. Clifford's wife and daughter Rowena moved to Canada to live with Clifford's mother, arriving in Canada on the 22nd of October 1944.

Rolland de Monfont Chinnock, Llewellyn 1917 - 1942;

Born on the 22nd of December 1917 at Santa Barbara, California, United States of America.

Educated as Harrow School, Harrow, London.

Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University, admitted as a Pensioner on the 1st of October 1936. B.A. 1939.

Rolland enlisted into the 121st Officer Cadet Training Unit Royal Artillery, 1938.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Royal Artillery on the 27th of December 1940. Published in the London Gazette on the 24th of January 1941, Supplement 35056, Page 543. Service No: 162749.

Promoted to Lieutenant Royal Artillery, unknown date.

Posted to No. 43 Operational Training Unit Royal Air Force, unknown date. Rolland was training as an Air Operations Pilot.

No. 43 O.T.U. was formed in October 1942 at R.A.F. Larkhill to train army co-operation air observers for deployment on the Taylorcraft Auster.

Accidentally Killed on the 23rd of November 1942, aged 24.

Rolland was aboard Taylorcraft Plus C2, Registration HL533 that crashed into the Salisbury to Devizes Road on the 23rd of November 1942 during a training flight.

Creamated at Woking Crematorium, Woking, Surrey.

Panel Reference: Panel 3.

Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.

Son of Herbert Roland and Florence Isabel Llewellyn, of Brook House, Middleton Road, Camberley, Surrey.

Robert Harold, Lomas-Smith 1919 - 1941;

Born on the 8th of June 1919. Registered at Edmonton, Middlesex.

Baptised on the 7th of October 1919, at St. Faith, Maidstone, Kent. Robert's family were living at 16 Evelyn Road, Maidstone, Kent.

Living at 29 High Street, Camberley, Surrey, in the 1939 Register. Working as a Commercial Artist on Temporary Government Service.

Enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , 1940.

Service No: 921574 .

Rank: Sergeant.

Trade: Wireless Operator

Posted to No. 7 Squadron, R.A.F., unknown date

On the 1st of August 1940 No. 7 Squadron reformed, becoming the first squadron to equip with the new Short Stirling heavy bomber, the first R.A.F. squadron to operate four engine bombers during the Second World War, flying the first bombing raids with the Stirling against oil storage tanks near Rotterdam on the night of 10th/11th February 1941.

Based at R.A.F. Oakington, Cambridgeshire.

In December 1940 at the height of the Blitz, the R.A.F. begun offensive operations against German occupied Europe. Operations known as 'Rhubarb', in which small patrols would cross under cover of cloudy conditions and engage any aircraft they found and 'Circus', which would send several squadrons - sometimes with heavy bombers - in sweeps of northern France on clear weather days.

Killed In Action on the 8th of July 1941, aged 22 years.

On the 8th of July 1941, the R.A.F. tasked No.7 Squadron with a day time raid on a Power Plant in Mazingarbe , France. Robert and the rest of the crew of the Short Stirling bomber, Serial No: N6034, took off from R.A.F. Oakington at 4.53 a.m. on the largest allied air raid launched so far in the war. Circus 39 had over 360 aircraft, but only three bombers, all Stirling's from No. 7 Squadron.

The bombers took off in total darkness, the course of Circus 39 taking them south over sleeping England. From 10,000 feet, the sun was up as the formation passed over the English coast at Rye, Sussex and swung east into the sun over the English Channel. Circus 39 cleared the coast. The target was straight east, a power plant in Mazingarbe, France. Cruising at about 200 miles per hour, the bombers bored overland in the fifteen minute race to the target. Above and around them, fighters turned back German attacks. Close to the target, dozens of flak guns opened up. The bombers levelled out and dropped their bombs. Reportedly, N6034 did the most damage. The Stirling's banked north, then west for home.

Moments after dropping her bombs, N6034 took a direct hit. The inside starboard engine, exploded into fire, the wing breaking the Stirling bomber nosed over and began picking up speed, two crew members managed to bale out. Ahead and below was the French village of Guarbecque where N6034 came to rest. The crash site is almost in the center of the town, yards from the church. It was just about the only open space around. Houses shook and plates rattled, but no one on the ground was killed. The two crew members landed near to each other, while the townspeople and emergency crews rushed to the smoke, but a wall of heat and exploding ammunition kept them back.

They saw the airmen appeared injured, quickly the German 208th regiment cordoned off the and the two men were surrounded and captured. Neither was armed. The airmen were last seen in the back of a commandeered Citroën; heading east out of town. The airmen were taken to nearby Bethune, their captors took the prisoners for a stiff drink, that Sergeant Chappell and Sergeant G. S. Edwards would of needed.Z

xA German salvage unit came in later. Fire had consumed much of the wreckage. One of N6034’s radial Hercules engines pushed over six feet into the earth. The rest of the plane hit with such force that parts of the rear turret were pushed so far into the earth, the salvage crew never found them. The engines were recovered, remains gathered, and debris removed.

The Surrey Advertiser reported the following on the 19th of July 1941;

"CAMBERLEY R.A.F SERGEANT MISSING

Mr. and Mrs. E. V. Lomas Smith of High-street, Camberley, who have been notified that their only son, Sergt. Robert Harold ("Bobby") Smith. R.A.F., is missing, hope that he may have been one of the two airmen who baled out when a British bomber was shot down after a daring raid into enemy occupied territory. Aged 22, Sergt. Lomas-Smith volunteered for the R.A.F. a year ago, and gained rapid promotion to the rank of 1st class wireless operator. His commanding officer desribes him as "a grand lad, and one who it is a privilege to know."

Buried at Longuenesse (St.Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Grave Ref: Plot 9. Row B. Grave 13 (Coll.)

Pilot Officer R.D. Morley, Sergeant William Ross, Pilot Officer John Bailie, Sergeant William Williams and Sergeant Robert Lomas-Smith are buried together in the cemetery at Longuenesse.

Son of Ernest Victor and Kate Bertha Lomas-Smith (nee Hughes), of Lymington, Hampshire. Formerly of High Street, Camberley, Surrey.

Ian Conway Gifford, Lywood 1899 - 1942;

Born on the 10th of September 1899 at Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Living at Hawks, Mill Street, Barking, Suffolk, in the 1901 census. Ian is staying with his maternal grandparents. His grandfather is shown as a Brewer and Maltster.

Educated as Stubbington House School, Stubbington, Hampshire.

Boarder at Stubbington House School, Stubbington, Hampshire, in the 1911 census.

Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College Sandhurst.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Royal Norfolk Regiment, on the 21st of August 1918. Published in the London Gazette on the 11th of September 1918, Supplement 30893, Page 10721.

Promoted to Lieutenant Royal Norfolk Regiment on the 21st of February 1920.

Posted to Jamaica, unknown date. Ian served with the 1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment.

Ian married Jessie Watson Martin on the 28th of July 1924, at Kingston, Jamaica.

Promoted to Captain Royal Norfolk Regiment on the 18th of December 1932.

Promoted to Major Royal Norfolk Regiment on the 1st of August 1938.

Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, unknown date.

Appointed Commanding Officer, 6th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment on the 15th of July 1941.

Posted for overseas service. The 6th Battalion Norfolk Regiment embarked at Gourock, Scotland on the 28th of October 1941.

The 6th Battalion sailed to Halifax, Canada where they changed ships to the U.S.S. Vernon and after a brief visit to Trinidad for refueling, reached Cape Town, South Africa on the the 9th of December 1941. Shore leave was granted before sailing again on the 13th of December for Bombay, India and then ordered to Mombassa on the 23rd of December and finally Singapore. Singapore harbour was reached on the 13th of January 1942 and the battalion disembarked in heavy rain and moved to Tyersall Park Camp by truck.

On the 16th of January 1942, Advance Battalion H.Q. were moved along with “C” and “D” companies by transports to Yong Peng. Moving west from Yong Peng “C” and “D” companies took up defensive positions along the Bakri Road, while “A” and “B” companies were moved in just to the rear to support. The 6th battalions task was to cover the lines of communication with the 45th Infantry Brigade who were under heavy attack near Muar. The Japanese now begun to press the attack on Singapore with the Allied armies defending as best they could but ultimately having to keep withdrawing their lines. On Thursday the 23rd of January Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Lywood suffering from acute Malaria was sent to the British Military Hospital (Alexandra Hospital).

On the afternoon of the 14th of February 1942 Japanese troops entered the Alexandra Hospital Grounds, A British lieutenant acting as an envoy with a white flag approached the Japanese forces but was killed with a bayonet. After the Japanese troops entered the hospital they killed up to 50 soldiers, including some undergoing surgery. Doctors and nurses were also killed.The next day about 200 male staff members and patients who had been assembled and bound the previous day,many of them walking wounded, were ordered to walk about 440 yards to an industrial area. Those who fell on the way were bayoneted. The men were forced into a series of small, badly-ventilated rooms where they were held overnight without water. Some died during the night as a result of their treatment with the remainder were bayoneted the following morning. Several survivors were identified after the war, with some having survived by pretending to be dead.

Killed on the 14th or 15th of February 1942, aged 42 during the Alexandra Hospital Massacre.

Buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

Grave Reference: Special Memorial 11. E. 12. (Buried near this spot).

Remembered on the Farringdon War Memorial, Farringdon, Hampshire.

Son of Lt.-Col. Edwin Gifford Lywood, Royal Marines, and Ethel Lywood (nee Wells); Husband of Jessie Watson Lywood (nee Martin), of Camberley, Surrey.

Lest We Forget

Lee Thomas October 2020